(OOC: The following section concerns the wild-elf tribe in Parnelli and is compiled from in game roleplay, events and mail correspondence with Hades and Circe, talks with Nienne and research from external sources. Some creative liberties have been taken in the description of events. It is deliberately written from the IC perspective of an outsider, to allow as much freedom as possible in future RP. If you notice any errors or similar, please PM me directly and I will fix it. Likewise, if there are any details I have missed, like the names of important NPC’s or PC’s, please let me know. If you wish to add to the history of the Parnelli tribe, feel free to post below. This particular Study ends in ca. 711 SG, following the attack of the Tarrasque(ca 2014 RL). It is my hope to develop a living and consistent account of The Parnelli Tribe, as new players pick up the mantle of Tribe Defenders and Adventurers.)

A Study of Green Elves, By Cinnara Meadow

In all my years as a scholar, there is one people that has always intrigued and eluded me. The closer I looked, the better they hid. The sharper my ears, the softer their footfalls. They are so secluded, that many thought them lost to time. The Green elves, I was told, is but a legend.

“Thearnytaar. Eiellr. Sypiir. Miyeritar. Keltormir. The first grand elven nations of so long ago. Now only a legend, the faint whispers of long forgotten glory. Oh, to unravel the mystery of this people! The first elven explorers to this world, who accompanied the Lythari and the Avariels on those very first voyages. The green elves, who built such wonderful cities and were once the very masters of craft and magic. How could such a grand and magnificent civilization fall so easily to the dark elves? Oh, to dwell into the past and find the truth to their tragic story! “
(Excerpt from "Birdie - Wild Elf of The Unicorn" by Cinnara Meadow)

Early Sightings
In 580 SG, a clan known as The Huntsmen bragged about a hard battle won against a small elven settlement deep within Kilkaen. Nearby residents claimed such a settlement simply did not exist. Upon closer questioning, however, some woodsmen and traveling merchants admitted to having traded with a group of dark-skinned elves. They were described as rugged and wild-looking, often clad in animal hides and lacking the graceful social finesse normally associated with elven kind. A forest fire erupted as direct result of this alleged battle, and the site was never found. The ranks of The Huntsmen were severely thinned in the encounter, never fully recovering, - a testament to the fierceness with which these elves fought.

In the year 590 SG I first encountered witness-accounts of elven sightings by human rangers native to Asgard. The ghost of an elven child had been spotted in the vicinity of a pixie. It was described as being dark of skin and hair, dressed in animal hides. When the rangers approached, the child disappeared and the pixie chased the rangers off. Likewise, the beasts of Systhach(?) speak of ghost assassins, but no prey lives to tell their tale. I searched every inch of the magical, and highly dangerous, forest of Parnelli, from the northern mountains to the god-forsaken Laerad Plains, through which lay the only non-magical way back to the main-land. The closest I ever came, was awakening in the Carriage House with a headache and no memory of the last few hours.

It is my theory that these two groups are related. They were most likely separated during The Sundering of 0 SG, in which the island of Laerad was torn from the mainland.

My luck changed in 680 SG, when I first crossed paths with a young elven orphan with the peculiar name of "Birdie", later known as Sumara Woodherd. A child of Mielikki, who claimed to have been raised by nature itself. We slowly became friends and my completed account of her adventures can be found at the city library. Imagine my excitement, when it became clear to both of us that she might well be a green elf with ties to the Parnelli tribe. Though she was later accepted into the tribe, I myself remained an outsider.

The Tribe of Parnelli
711 SG a disaster befell the communities on the Island of Laerad. A gargantuan creature of legendary powers, known as a "tarrasque" awoke from slumber to wreck havoc upon the nearby lands. The city of Asgard took heavy damage. The tribe of green elves hidden deep within Parnelli had their dwelling destroyed in the incident, and found temporary refuge with the elves of Synoria. None of the elves perished in the disaster. In its wake, though, two scouts, Searil and Graneiros, were killed and a child abducted by worshippers of Talos. The green elf known as Orn Sul and his allies rescued the child, Innaerios.*

It was in the wake of this disaster, that I was honored to sit with a small group of green elves. From these talks and my time with Sumara, I have gained valuable insight into their ways and customs.

The tribe in question is a matriarch, governed by a council of Elder Women, whose word is Law. Their numbers remain unknown, as do their origin. It is rare now, for a green elf to venture far from their dwelling and those that do remain hidden, often choosing not to communicate with outsiders at all. They appear quite xenophobic, even more so than golden elves, and adhere strictly to the codes set down by the Elders. This is understandable, as it was the green elves who most fiercely opposed the human expansion in the past**. Their distrust of other races also include their elven cousins, who they view as too far removed from nature. This is evident in the word used for elven outsiders, meaning “elf not of my tribe”. Careful probing suggests that there are no half-humans among them, despite their close vicinity to Asgard.

While little to no written works by members of the tribe exist, the wealth of their oral traditions is remarkable. Songs and stories, passed down through generations, some as old as the race itself, exist aplenty. The legends provide guidelines for moral conduct and ethics, as well as day to day activities. The songs may be used in worship, to inspire courage and skill, or to invoke the tribal spirits, often in synchrony with dance. The Green elves enjoy festivities and often pay tribute to nature by way of song and dance. The solstice feasts are of particular importance. Interestingly enough, one of their favorite ways to celebrate, is to engage in a hunt! They appear to be tribal affairs, in which all elves, young and old, have a part. Oh, how I wish they would allow me to partake in such a tribal festival!

Their art, while ranging in complexity, is often meant to be temporary; a painting drawn upon a rock or an animal skin, a crown of leaves or an excellent meal, a spontaneous dance or song never repeated. The joy of art is in its creation. One went as far as to argue that to create permanent pieces of art would be like imprisoning the ever-changing beauty of the world. Likewise, the tools they use may seem simple at first glance, but I have noticed most are sturdy and can be easily reassembled to fit their current task. Like nature shifts and changes, so does the green elves, while their way of life, much like nature itself, remains a steady, repetitive circle.

They no longer build cities, preferring to live as natural as possible, in mounds or nest-like abodes within the trees. Could I have passed straight through their dwelling and not even noticed? Despite the simplicity of their homes, they have retained the art of forging magical weapons and gear. Though seemingly simple and somewhat rural, or even archaic in design, I am assured they are every bit as effective as ours. I am prone to believe them, as the magic of their tribal rituals have aided in keeping them hidden and safe from all but a legendary beast. I am also left to wonder if their mystical powers are essential for the magic in Parnelli and to the defense against what is rumored to exist within the mountains?

The tribe has since returned to Parnelli. The disaster seems to have inspired an attempt to communicate with Asgard, as they too rebuild. With the human noble Zathery and the green-elven druid Ornsul in charge of diplomatic relations, a minor change might be in the air for the green elves of Parnelli.

---

*It is interesting to note that the druid Orn Sul was aided by the humans, Verbannon, Trillet and Vidarr, as well as the gnome Jimi Juker. Note also that the human noble Zathery of Tyr, on Sumara's request, aided in the recovery of green elves who had been lost in the incident.

**I am led to believe there is a generation conflict play here, however: The elders want to focus on staying hidden and continue to have little to no contact with the outside world. Their motto seems to be that “The less the others know of us, the less they can do to harm us. “ A belief strengthened by the fact that this tribe appears to be the last remaining one in the entire realm, having survived this long by staying hidden. Meanwhile, some of the younger ones feel as though it is time to both establish contact with others and to fight back against the dangers that threatens Parnelli. Some younger elves, for example, wish to eradicate the troll city. The Elders, however, hold the view that an outright war with the beasts will only lead to death and destruction.

Here, the chronicles of Cinnara Meadow ends and no further records can be found. What came of the diplomatic relations mentioned in the last paragraph? How well have the elves adapted to life in a corrupted Parnelli forest? Who will be the next green elf to leave the relative safety of their rebuilt home? And what of the rumors of wild elven tribes residing in The Wildlands?_________________"The truth may be out there, but the lies are inside your head." T. Pratchett

Last edited by Gia on Wed Jun 21, 2017 11:43 pm; edited 1 time in total

Sumara Woodherd: A fierce warrior and ranger of Mielikki, charged with protecting the natural world and defending the Parnelli tribe against outside forces. An active adventurer in the past, rumor suggests she has now withdrawn from the world of man. When not with her tribe, she patrols the great wilds of the realm in the company of a young topaz dragon.

Wild elf of Parnelli Knowledge: In 596 SG, a group of foreign wild-elves found their way to Parnelli and were taken in by the tribe. They claimed to be the sole survivors of an attack that wiped out the very last remaining wild-elven tribe on the mainland. About a century later, rangers brought word of a lone wild-elf girl prowling the main-land, going by the strange human name “Birdie”. She was approached by the tribe when defending Parnelli from Beasts and eventually accepted as one of their own. Her tribal name is Syesumarakhnor, which translates to "Wild Child Woodland Defender". Somewhat of a loner, with an independent and chaotic streak, she often finds herself at odds with the elders. She has been critiqued in the past for her familiarity with non-green elves but it has been a while now since her loyalty has been questioned. Her martial skills and willingness to teach leaves her in good grace, however, especially among the younger elves. Amazingly, she is often seen the company of a young topaz dragon, Srorula, whom she calls "her son".

Orn Sul: This young druid was the first Parnelli elf in many decades to answer the call of wanderlust and set out on his own. He is renowned for his bravery and many great deeds and has often been spotted in the company of non-elves. He played a key-part in defending Parnelli from the Tarrasque-attack.

Wild-elf of Parnelli Knowledge: Rumor has it that the young druid was exiled from Parnelli following his dealings with House Rilynath and a mysterious elf known as Daerah. Has he been invited back into the warm embrace of his People?

(OOC: If you wish to add any information on any of the above characters, or add your own character, please PM me directly or post below)_________________"The truth may be out there, but the lies are inside your head." T. Pratchett

Last edited by Gia on Wed Jun 21, 2017 11:27 pm; edited 3 times in total

Nice compilation! If it helps any, ICly there's actually two green elf groups remaining - Parnelli on the island of Laerad, and a larger mainland group further west of the Shadowgate Realm, in the Wildlands. The Parnelli group is certainly the only one within the game-coded territory however

Thanks, Nienne! If you have any names of leader figures or other notes that you would like to make available, please let me know and I can try to incorporate it. If not, no worries 😊
And yep, the tribe in the Wildlands is mentioned briefly above, but I know nothing about it, so neither does Cinnara Meadow(I cannot remember it being mentioned when I played a wild-elf). If anyone would like to write something up and post it here, that would be most welcome._________________"The truth may be out there, but the lies are inside your head." T. Pratchett

I like it._________________PM me in the forum here when you want me on to RP or dungeon dive. The forum will automatically notify me by e-mail. Then my e-mail will send me a text message. Then I will get on likely within minutes.